World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen suffered a rare defeat in classical chess, going down to Jorden van Foreest in a dramatic Round 4 clash at the TePe Sigeman & Co tournament, ending his unbeaten run in the format that had stretched for nearly a year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Carlsen, who had not lost a classical game since his high-profile defeat to D Gukesh at Norway Chess 2025, appeared well-placed to salvage a draw in what turned out to be a tense and fluctuating encounter. However, sustained pressure and time trouble proved decisive as Van Foreest capitalised on late inaccuracies to seal a memorable victory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The contest saw both players navigate a complex middlegame before entering a tricky endgame featuring imbalanced material. With engines suggesting a drawn position and Carlsen known for his defensive resilience, the Norwegian looked set to extend his streak. But as the clock ticked down, the balance shifted.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Van Foreest gradually increased the pressure, repeatedly posing practical problems. In a critical phase, Carlsen faltered, allowing his knight to be trapped in a decisive sequence that forced resignation, bringing an end to his long-standing dominance in classical play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on the win and the turning point, Van Foreest said, “I never thought it would happen. I was already resigned to making a draw and I was OK with it, and then suddenly I got this moment out of nowhere and things spiralled out of control once again. It was a fascinating game, and I think he also thought so. That’s why we discussed a lot.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Van Foreest gradually increased the pressure, repeatedly posing practical problems. In a critical phase, Carlsen faltered, allowing his knight to be trapped in a decisive sequence that forced resignation, bringing an end to his long-standing dominance in classical play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Elsewhere, 14-year-old Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus defeated Nils Grandelius to take the sole lead. Zhu Jiner notched her first win against Andy Woodward, while India’s Arjun Erigaisi played out a draw with Nodirbek Abdusattorov.<\/p>\r\n\r\n